Incredible Places to Visit in Canada

As much as we Jetsetters love far-flung escapes, there’s something to be said about staying
closer to home. So, we’re looking to our friendly neighbor to the north for its pristine national
parks, cosmopolitan cities, and rugged coasts. Here, the most incredible places to visit in Canada.

By Chelsea Bengier June 11, 2018

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Terrasse Nelligan
Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal, Nathalie Dumas / Saint Laurent Blvd, Matthias Berthet /
Big in Japan Bar

Montreal
Hipster cafés, indie boutiques, and charming historic streets make Montreal Canada’s culture
capital. Start by crossing off some of the main sites: The Frederick Law Olmsted-designed
Mount Royal Park offers some of the best skyline views, and the trendy rooftop bar Terrasse
Nelligan overlooks Old Town, Notre Dame Basilica, and the St. Lawrence River. While you’re
here, make sure to try the braised pork poutine, a Québécois classic. Then, head to Saint-Laurent
Boulevard to browse the chic shops and eclectic art galleries. Hit Citizen Vintage for unique
upcycled clothing and local handicrafts, Freitag Concept for silver and semi-precious stone
jewelry, and Big in Japan Bar—a sultry, candlelit speakeasy—for creative cocktails.
Banff National Park, Travel Alberta
Park Distillery courtesy of Paul Zizka and Travel Alberta / Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

Banff National Park

As the oldest and most famous national park, Banff is not to be missed on your tour through
Canada. In the summer, the lush landscape is a postcard of wildflower meadows, crystalline
glacial lakes, and grazing elk while in the winter the region looks like the inside of a snowglobe
with windswept ice fields and towering, snow-capped peaks. Drop your bags at the Fairmont
Chateau Lake Louise, which has hosted everyone from Queen Elizabeth II to Marilyn Monroe in
its Swiss-style suites. For vertigo-inducing hikes, try the cliffside catwalk in Johnston Canyon,
which winds around thundering waterfalls and steep gorges. Cap off the day with a glass of
vodka, gin, or rye whiskey at Park Distillery, the world’s only distillery located in a national
park. Using glacier water, foraged spruce tips, and wheat from local Albert farms, these small-
batch spirits are a true taste of the region.
Abkhazi Garden, Tourism Victoria / Aura
Craigdarroch Castle

Victoria
Vancouver often steals the spotlight from Victoria, but the bayside city is more than worthy of a
stop. Manicured gardens, Victorian-style homes, and brightly-colored boutiques are just some of
its charms, after all. Architecture buffs should make a beeline for Craigdarroch Castle followed
by afternoon tea at the Abkhazi Garden, a botanical oasis opened by Russian royalty in 1959.
Still hungry? Head to Red Fish Blue Fish for harborfront views and casual seafood bites like
crispy tempura-battered Pacific cod with coleslaw and hand cut Kennebec chips. Or, reserve a
table at Aura to tuck into freshly-shucked B.C. oysters, and seared wild salmon with Israeli
couscous and asparagus.

RELATED: 9 Best National Parks in Canada

ByWard Market / Andaz Ottawa ByWard Market
Andaz Ottawa ByWard Market

Ottawa
Ottawa, the nation’s capital, has come into its own thanks to a string of new boutique hotels,
buzzy restaurants, and stylish shops. The year-old Andaz Ottawa ByWard Market turns heads
with its swanky 16th-floor lounge—the tallest rooftop bar in the city—and its 200 Mason Studio-
designed guestrooms. ByWard, the oldest and largest farmers’ market in Canada, is right outside
your front door, and the picturesque neighborhood is home to cobblestoned courtyards, al fresco
cafés, and quirky stores. Pick up some boho-chic threads at Milk, leather items at Roots Canada,
and Ottawa-made accessories at Goods Shop. Riviera is the hottest restaurant on the block; the
former bank has been reimagined as an open-kitchen concept serving cheeky cocktails
(Grapefruits of Wrath is a favorite) and elevated Italian dishes, such as rabbit pappardelle with
pancetta and cremini mushrooms.
Fogo Island Inn

Newfoundland and Labrador

The country’s easternmost province has all the trappings of a maritime wonderland. Sleepy
fishing villages with colorful clapboard houses are set against a stunning backdrop of the North
Atlantic Ocean. In the city of St. John’s, swing by Rocket Bakery for roasted red pepper quiches
or partridgeberry muffins, a local specialty. For those who prefer to go off the map, Fogo Island
Inn is ideal. With only 29 rooms, this design-forward stay by Newfoundland-born architect Todd
Saunders hovers along the isle’s untouched surf and features an art gallery, a cinema, outdoor hot
tubs, and a library with a cozy fireplace. To take in more of Newfie’s nature, road trip out to
Gros Morne National Park, where you can explore freshwater fjords, dense forests, and towering
sea stacks.
Remai Modern
Remai Modern / Kinsmen Park / Saskatoon Cityscape

Saskatoon
Surrounded by prairie grasslands, Saskatoon is bringing arts and culture to central Canada. The
John G. Diefenbaker International Airport—fresh off a $53 million expansion—welcomes
visitors in style, as does the River Landing, a massive new waterfront development in the heart
of the city. When completed, the three-acre area will have a luxury condo building, two office
towers, and the 15-story Alt Hotel (coming this fall). Across the street is the 125,000-square-foot
Remai Modern museum, which opened in October to much applause. Here, you can browse
8,000 pieces of art, plus an impressive collection of works by Pablo Picasso. In the summertime,
swing by Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan, which has been performing outdoor theater for more
than 30 years. On the docket this season: Hamlet and The Merry Wives of Windsor.

RELATED: 7 Gorgeous Hotels in Alberta, Canada

Northwest Territories Tourism

Northwest Territories
Digital detox vacations have become the next trend for tech-obsessed travelers—and there’s no
better place to go off-the-grid than in the arctic Northwest Territories. A quick 30-minute ski
plane ride will get you from Yellowknife, the only city in the province, to the remote Blachford
Lake Lodge. Consider this retreat a sleepaway camp for adults: Private rustic cabins are stocked
with wood stoves, outdoor hot tubs, and plaid blankets while daily activities include stand-up
paddle boarding, mountain biking, and fishing in the warmer months or snowmobiling, igloo
building, and cross-country skiing come winter. But the best part is the prime lakeside spot to
watch the northern lights paint the sky—no Instagram needed.